When I was young, I thought my life was going to be a straight line: Study, get a profession and then work in that specific career while enjoying life in my native city of Bogota, Colombia. Man, was I way off!

When I was 17 I had to serve a one-year mandatory military service, and was placed in the barracks that provided security to the country’s president. I was serving during the most violent time of the country which is when drug lord Pablo Escobar declared total war against the Colombian government. If you’ve watched the Netflix TV series Narcos, you’ll know what I mean. I was suddenly in the thick of it all! This was also the first time I experienced being completely out of my comfort zone.

I then went to study Architecture. After I finished my degree, the country went into economic recession and thus I had a skill BUT no job! I was then forced to make the (very tough) decision to leave my home country and come to study in Sydney and immigrate to Australia.

This happens to be the best decision I ever made because it opened me to a whole new world and changed me into the person I am today. This decision forced me to live and think in a different language, learn and understand different cultures, taste new foods and be away from my family. Basically live (again) 100% out of my comfort zone.

As a result of this, I learned the value of taking action and working hard towards a defined goal, which in this particular case was not to starve, be able to survive and manage to pay all my expenses! I worked in all kinds of jobs. Telemarketing, kitchen-hand, waitering, bartending and office assistance among others.

I was also able to identify the power of networking and making new friends. Some of them became my new “chosen family” and thanks to them I was able to get my first job. Living in Australia also help me understand how some things can work better. I was also able to compare and pass on many good things that I was taught back in latin america.

I started working in Architecture but I was not able to focus on the creative part (which is what I enjoyed) and thus I struggled to find a purpose for sometime. I was very fortunate because I ended up working in several areas of the Australian Education Industry for more than 15 years. I also started two companies: A graphic design business with which we became an official designer for the Sydney Opera House Shops, and another one where we help international students from all over the world to find accommodation in Australia.

Working in International Education gave me the opportunity to travel all over the world, talk to tens of thousands of students and academics from many countries and be inspired by them. This taught me how to be curious, inquisitive and how to listen. This also showed me that Education is the key to the world and that it needs to be open and available to everyone. For me education is the source of knowledge and travel is the source of inspiration.

I believe education and travel are the most important tools anyone can receive. I also know that we have to create meaningful connections and need to constantly learn from others. This is why I started The Innovator Diaries and created a hub of successful stories. It is my way to try to bring education to as many people as possible. It is also the easiest way for you to spread these messages around!

I want to meet and learn from brilliant minds in all industries and nationalities. The idea is that they become virtual mentors and their message is available to all, so that it inspires others (especially the younger generation) to create projects that brings integrity and goodness back into society.

I want to try to give back and be of service to the community, to contribute by sharing positive messages in an effort to build something (not destroy or create fear, which I think is something the world needs right now). I Hope you enjoy these stories as much as I do. Let’s all learn from each other and try to create an education community!